King's Landing filming spots: the definitive street-by-street list

Every King’s Landing location mapped to what you see on screen

The transformation of Dubrovnik’s Old Town into King’s Landing began in Season 2 and continued with increasing ambition through Season 8. The production used the city’s medieval streets, walls, and harbours as an extended exterior set — one that gave Game of Thrones a physical authenticity no purpose-built set could replicate. What follows is the most complete public account of which scenes were filmed where, matched to specific locations you can visit today.

This guide is deliberately detailed. If you prefer a shorter overview, see every Game of Thrones filming location in Dubrovnik. For a practical walking route, see the Game of Thrones Dubrovnik walking map.

Section 1: Lovrijenac Fortress (the Red Keep exterior)

Lovrijenac is the location that rewards the deepest study. The fortress occupies a rock 37 metres above sea level, separated from the western city walls by a narrow sea channel. It provided the exterior shots of the Red Keep throughout the series — the imposing stone tower visible against the Adriatic sky in establishing shots of King’s Landing.

Season 2: The fortress appears in scenes of Tyrion arriving at King’s Landing and inspecting the city’s defences. The lower courtyard and the approach from the sea were filmed here.

Season 4: Several scenes between characters on the Red Keep’s outer ramparts used the upper fortifications of Lovrijenac. The relationship between the sea below and the walls above matched what the script required for the Eyrie-Red Keep contrast scenes.

Season 5–7: Background establishing shots of King’s Landing continued to use Lovrijenac, often combined with CGI elements to extend the city beyond the actual structure.

The fortress is reached by steps from the path running south of Pile Gate. It requires a separate ticket from the city walls entry, or is included in the Dubrovnik Pass. Standing on the upper ramparts and looking north-east across the sea channel to the walls gives you the viewpoint the camera often took looking towards the Red Keep.

Section 2: Pile Gate and the western walls (Blackwater Battle)

The western approach to the Old Town — Pile Gate, Bokar Tower, and the stretch of wall above the sea — was the primary location for the Battle of Blackwater in Season 2. The sea below the western walls, between Lovrijenac and Bokar Tower, represented Blackwater Bay.

Season 2, episode 9: The memorable overhead shots of wildfire spreading across the water were composited from aerial footage of the bay below these walls. The wall section itself, particularly the stretch between Bokar Tower and the sea gate, appeared in numerous battle sequences.

Season 4: The walls above Pile Gate appeared in scenes of king’s guards patrolling the city’s outer defences.

Walking this section of the walls in the morning light, with the sea below and Lovrijenac visible to the west, gives you the clearest sense of how the location translated to screen. The city walls complete guide covers the best time to walk and what to expect at each section.

City walls tour with Game of Thrones guide and scene comparisons

Section 3: Minčeta Tower (House of the Undying)

Minčeta Tower, the tallest point on the northern walls, was used as the exterior of the House of the Undying in Season 2 — the warlock’s tower where Daenerys’ dragons were imprisoned and where she experienced the vision sequences.

Season 2: The approach to Minčeta from the northern city-side path, and the exterior of the tower itself, matched the scene where Daenerys approaches the House of the Undying. The spiral interior was not filmed here.

Minčeta is included in the standard walls ticket and is reached about halfway around the circuit starting from Pile Gate. The steps up to the top are steep but rewarded with panoramic views.

Section 4: St Dominic Street and the eastern lane

Ulica Sv. Dominika, the street running along the inner face of the eastern walls, was used for multiple scenes set in the streets near Littlefinger’s brothel and the Small Council chambers.

Season 2: Several approach sequences and street-level crowd scenes used this street. The Dominican Monastery courtyard at the north end of the street appeared briefly.

Season 4: The arcade along this street appeared in scenes of characters navigating King’s Landing’s more commercial districts. The proximity of the harbour at the street’s southern end made it practical for scenes linking the docks with the city proper.

This street is free to walk, uncrowded compared to Stradun, and retains the medieval stone character that made it useful as a filming location.

Section 5: The Old Harbour (dockside scenes)

The enclosed inner harbour (Stara Luka), with its stone quays and the rocky bluff above, was used as King’s Landing’s harbour throughout the series.

Season 2: Ships arriving at King’s Landing used this harbour. The stone quayside and the arch of the city gate opening onto the water were background elements in several docking scenes.

Season 5: Myrcella’s departure from King’s Landing used the harbour. The farewell sequence was filmed on these quays with the walls visible in the background.

Season 8: The harbour appeared in scenes of the fleet’s arrival. By Season 8 the production was using significant CGI extension, but the base location remained the Old Harbour.

The harbour is open to visitors and is the departure point for the Lokrum ferry — worth noting given that Lokrum Island is itself a significant Game of Thrones location.

Section 6: Rector’s Palace area (council and city interiors)

The area around the Rector’s Palace (Knežev Dvor) and the Cathedral square was used for establishing shots of the council area and for street scenes in the commercial heart of King’s Landing.

Season 2: The palace’s outer courtyard and the street leading to it appeared in scenes of Tyrion and other characters navigating the city. The Renaissance arches of the palace exterior provided a credible substitute for the Belfast interior sets in wide establishing shots.

The palace is a museum with a small permanent exhibition on Ragusan Republic history. The courtyard is accessible to museum visitors.

Section 7: Stradun (the main street)

The Stradun — Dubrovnik’s main thoroughfare, the wide limestone-paved street running east–west through the Old Town — appeared in wide crowd shots of King’s Landing’s main street throughout the series. It is most recognisable in scenes depicting the city during public events.

Season 2: The Stradun appeared in the background of crowd scenes accompanying Joffrey’s procession. The production dressed the street with period-appropriate elements and CGI crowds.

The Stradun is the most visited street in Dubrovnik. Walking it early in the morning (before 8am in summer) gives you the empty-street experience that more closely matches what was filmed.

Section 8: The staircase near the Ethnographic Museum (walk of shame)

The steep external staircase on the south-western flank of the Old Town, near the Ethnographic Museum, was used for Cersei’s walk of shame in the Season 5 finale. The tight stone steps and the close surrounding buildings provided exactly the claustrophobic setting the scene required.

Season 5, episode 10: The sequence was filmed in late 2014. The staircase itself runs from street level to the walls circuit above. It is not signposted as a filming location and has no memorial marker — it is simply a functional set of public stairs that happens to be one of the most-photographed stairways in Croatia.

Access is free. The stairs are steep.

Legendary Game of Thrones tour: all major Dubrovnik King’s Landing locations

Section 9: Kalarinja Lane and secondary streets

Several narrow lanes leading south from Stradun were used for street-level sequences in King’s Landing where the city is depicted as crowded and poor. Kalarinja Lane (Od Puča Street running south towards the walls) appeared in background shots. These locations are largely unmarked and are best identified by matching street width, stone type, and wall height to specific scenes.

Trsteno and Lokrum: beyond the walls

Two locations outside the walled city complete the King’s Landing picture:

Trsteno Arboretum (25 km north-west) served as the gardens of the Tyrell family and the setting for several conversations between Sansa Stark and Olenna Tyrell. See the Trsteno Arboretum GoT guide.

Lokrum Island (15 minutes by ferry) contains a replica Iron Throne and was the location used for scenes in Qarth in Season 2. The island is a quick ferry ride from the Old Harbour. See Lokrum and the Iron Throne.

The full two-day Game of Thrones itinerary including Trsteno and Lokrum is in the Dubrovnik Game of Thrones 2-day itinerary.

Frequently asked questions about King’s Landing filming spots

Are all the filming locations inside the Old Town?

The majority are inside the walls. Lovrijenac is just outside the western gate. Trsteno Arboretum is 25 kilometres away and requires a separate day or car trip. Lokrum is accessible by ferry in 15 minutes.

Do GoT tours go inside all the buildings?

Standard walking tours remain at street level and on the walls. They do not include interior museum access. If you want to enter the Rector’s Palace or Lovrijenac’s interior, buy tickets separately.

What is the best time of day for GoT location photography?

Early morning (7–9am) gives you the best light and the least crowded streets. Many of the buildings face east or south, making morning light most flattering. The walls open at 8am in summer.

Are there official GoT location markers in Dubrovnik?

The city has no official plaques or permanent markers at most filming locations. A few tour operators use their own laminated photo cards for side-by-side comparisons. The walk of shame staircase and Lovrijenac have no Game of Thrones signage at all.

Can I hire a private guide for King’s Landing locations?

Yes — several tour operators offer private tours that can be customised for die-hard fans wanting scene-specific detail. Private tours allow more flexibility for photography and are worth considering for groups of four or more, where the per-person cost approaches that of a group tour. See the GoT tour comparison page for options.

Is there a self-guided audio tour?

Several smartphone apps offer self-guided GoT audio tours of Dubrovnik. Quality varies. The most accurate ones are produced by former professional guides rather than automated content. Check reviews before purchasing. Alternatively, the Game of Thrones Dubrovnik walking map on this site provides a free route without requiring any app download.